PANAJI
Amid the public feud in the Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP), its lone legislator, Viresh Borkar, tightened his grip on the organisation and 'suspended' general secretary Vishwesh Naik, who was at loggerheads with him, walked out altogether by resigning from the party's primary membership.
Borkar, who recently declared himself the party’s “national president,” announced on Tuesday the formation of a three-member 'National Disciplinary Committee.'
Pravin Halarnkar will chair the panel, with Nitesh Bhandari and Kavin A Correia as members. The committee has been tasked with independently examining cases of misconduct, indiscipline, anti-party activities, and violations of the party’s Constitution and Code of Conduct. Its recommendations will be submitted to the “competent authority.”
Simultaneously, the Borkar faction also issued a public notice discrediting suspended members Vishwesh Naik and Ajay Kholkar. The notice stated that neither is authorised to represent the party or act on its behalf while disciplinary proceedings are pending.
It further warned that any statements, decisions, appointments, or communications made by them in the RGP’s name are invalid. The public was urged to deal only with authorised representatives.
The move comes amid tensions following Borkar’s unilateral takeover of party structures earlier last week, in a bid to resolve the internal issues and bring order to the fledgling regional party.
His declaration as “national president” and the dissolution of committees had already triggered a backlash from other office bearers, who accused him of attempting a coup.
Independent legal experts said Borkar's moves were legally sound as the party Constitution uploaded on the Election Commission of India’s website does provide for a 'national president' and also vests disciplinary powers in the position.
Meanwhile, in signs that the opposing faction, said to be affiliated with former party leader Manoj Parab, has thrown in the towel, Vishwesh announced his resignation from all positions and from the primary membership of the party late on Tuesday evening.
In a statement, Vishwesh said he was stepping down with a “heavy heart” and wished the party the best in overcoming its immediate internal issues and continuing to serve the people of Goa.
Naik’s exit marks another blow to the fractured outfit, which has been reeling since the resignation of founder president Manoj Parab last month. The disciplinary committee’s formation signals Borkar’s determination to consolidate authority, even as dissenting voices accuse him of overreach.
With the party’s lone legislator now firmly asserting control, the RGP faces a critical test of survival, and an onerous task rests before Borkar’s disciplinary panel to restore order among the party’s divided leaders and members.
